Why Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is exceeding GM Mike Dunleavy's expectations

Why Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is exceeding GM Mike Dunleavy's expectations originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Yaxel Lendeborg carries the highest expectations for a Warriors rookie in a long time. 

Even with the high expectations for the 2026 NBA Draft’s No. 11 overall pick, general manager Mike Dunleavy told the SF Standard’s Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show” that Lendeborg already is exceeding expectations ahead of the regular season. 

“I’ll say he’s been better in some areas that, maybe, we did not expect him to be so good in early,” Dunleavy explained. “But, it makes sense that he’s performing well in those areas. So yeah, we are really pleased.  

“I think because of the nature of having [Kristaps Porziņģis] and Jimmy [Butler] and Moses [Moody] out – he’s gotten more opportunity and he will get more opportunity, just so far in summer league and preseason he’s shown why he’s going to be one of our better players.” 

Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters that he is “leaning towards” including Lendeborg in the starting lineup. No Warriors rookie has started their first NBA game since James Wiseman in the 2020-21 season. 

Lendeborg has scored at least 17 points in all but one of his preseason games played. His excellent preseason was highlighted by a 23-point performance in just 24 minutes played against the Sacramento Kings. 

His shooting has impressed everybody, but Dunleavy is taking notice of the rest of his game. 

“I think what’s impressed us more is the ability to handle, to pass, to make all the right plays, just his simple passing,” Dunleavy explained. “This is the type of player we’ve been looking for since [losing] Iguodala and Wiggins, and guys like that. Guys that have positional size on the perimeter that can shoot, pass and dribble are just so unique.  

“I think we’re fortunate at the 11th pick to get a player like this.” 

After a low-scoring performance in the first preseason game, Kerr, along with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, implored the rookie to be more aggressive as a scorer. Nevertheless, Lendeborg’s ability to keep the ball moving and make the right play in an offense that revolves around Curry will be highly important, and Dunleavy is impressed in his ability to do so already. 

And with the uncertainty surrounding Porziņģis’s health looming large, the Warriors will have to fill in the gaps at the center position. Kawakami posed an interesting question to Dunleavy: Could Lendeborg be a potential option at the 5? 

Dunleavy didn’t completely rule out the option. 

“Given his size, his length, his ability to rebound; he’s super versatile. I think the guy can play one through five, which is pretty impressive,” Dunleavy explained. “I’d say probably the biggest adjustment for him would be defensively.”  

The Warriors have played a relatively positionless offense in recent years. Centers like Porziņģis and Al Horford can find themselves on the perimeter, and guards like Gary Payton II can sit in the low post waiting for dump-off passes and lobs. 

But the biggest potential issue would be on the defensive side. 

“If you’re playing center in the NBA defensively, there’s a level of rim protection and just awareness that you have to have on the backside,” Dunleavy noted. ” And can him and Draymond pull that off together? I think they can.  

“It may take him some time to pick up some things, but it’s a pretty unique thing to think about.” 

Getting minutes at the center position would be unique for the rookie. But if there’s any team that will go outside of the box, Kerr’s team is a good pick to do so. 

No matter his positioning, Dunleavy’s impression so far is that Lendeborg will be able to be one of the best Warriors this season. 

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